New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-10-27
DISCORD IN A MODEL CHOIR.
TOO MUCH WRITING ENDED A CONTRACT.

MRS. NORMAN GETS VERDICT BECAUSE SHE WAS
DISCHARGED FROM PLYMOUTH CHURCH
Tho summary dismissal OF Mrs. Helen Norman. con-
tralto from the choir Of Plymouth Church. Brooklyn
while Mr. Beecher Its pastor. was the subject OF
judicial inquiry In the Supreme Court yesterday before
Justice Patterson and jury Mrs. Norman handsome
brunette with large black eyes, was dressed In desp
mourning account OF the recent death OF her mother
She told the story of grievances on tho
She IL sister of Will Carleton She has sung In opera
oratorio and concert In this country Canada and Eng
land where she was born. Her suit WAS against
Henry Carter, formerly musical director ana
organist Of the church. and James NJ b.
Caruthers q cefee merchant Of Brooklyn. formerly
member Of tho firm OF Arbuckle Co., and prominent
member Of Plymouth Church.
Mrs. Norman testified that she was "a professional
contato solost This had been her business for twelve
years. During the last two years she had been singing
in "Parsifal," Elijah" "The Messiah" and
other olatOrios, In the Royal Albert Hall.
London. and In opera IN that city.
She sang in Plymouth Church for two years prior to
May l, 1888. Her salary 5000 with perquistes"
Mr. Carter was the oganst and after May l. 1888, he
was authorized engage tho members OF the choir He
engaged her May at 5000 q year for one year.
Before that time he In the habit Of calling at her
house In Harlem visitor TO Miss Charlotte swim
burns OF Canada, a soprano singer, who afterward
brought a against him for breach Of promise OF mar
the past two years.
Ono day going homo rehearsal with her husband
she Mr. Carter elevated railroad train. and he
made oral with her. promising 5000 year
and that by contributions from the congregatsn her
pensation would be increased TO $1,000. tie said
that the congregation had given him So 900 with which
TO run choir Mr. Caruthers chairman OF the
Committee Music and Mr. Carter told her TO go to him
and tell i'm that she had been engaged by Mr. Carter
She did and he confirmed the agreement There was
no written contract
TRUSTING THE WORD OF A CHRISTIAN.
"The word OF Gentleman, Christian and a member
OF the church enough for me-" she said. To make
her moro secure Mr. Caruthcrs said that subscription
for church music had been started and that he had sub
scrbed 800 himself She returned home and there
found the following letter from Mr.. Carter:
NKw.YoRK May g. 1888
Mt DEAR MRS NORMAN, Mr.. Caruth.rs has written to
say that be VIII a. set about ~ Tor SS 2sf
me 5000 shah be delghsa 4 he snccse,s and
from Tho Woman Of sa%ara BY Bennett iran,ps,s,G to
ySG. w v s' to c ons ssi the
FIRST hatss OF OF the verses In Jesus Loverot Nv soul
soto in Here follow musical Character aud several
a"ay 10 what eaI 10 xesg s1a tank p es
A. tho choir At present oEaSs t9shs m mo.
tlnies. sneerinEs underground counter influence.
sPs S ,mGh sembases %asa as choir
anepat good ds4l Of pleasure in the NEXT years work
and fsmiyks company Of musical people broushs TO-
be At PRAYER ing i9t change On Friday even
Ing II you have always attended please como down.
PROMISING TO BIZ A MODEL CHOIR.
Mrs Norman Immediately sat down and wrote fol-
lows
Ny DEAR Ma CARTER Your kind. hthsry note received
to day Dear me how very hn,y the Soat o,
almost amount TO Scripture and you Sc AIN getting
aud not DO guilty Of CesoIns at;insN mgtns, under
srou"S nnne@ and uh"ey"ng1 or my may so sro
you write such awful epistla as though We we're lor
ing Dad but such comOu'tioe material az choir
s1nsy Dot fear sssa * otOOdr Gya.%ic
cert singer Wat do you and how about
ru,tv Old orgauisI-. e, ecisliy the baoieIorst - ,
NV hn.bsuG wont Win tngasei for another at
and toll YOU was oasagoi in presence
tirman a, "itne,s have lots tell yOt
poor br4ins and eyss at thi; early date by writing
lhc music Of poor i.tto hymn En.T
fancy trio. otc. with amateur. on' sup
II can De heipeL pat ne ct mind 90 Ahea! VOL
Yoa have got to eaga % Mrs n6irus might explode
her muse tom suads5 to SIM Az sodont yoa iorGetit
ns ave fi, S8 BEEN !" NY
10 II n icy make It wortG nv Will vii com. to re-
hrar.a saturday usual want 10 have ioas entt VITA
Mr. Caruther.',. sinrer,iy yours. Helm NOM *
,o9 Xaar in- NJ s5 S 1 Hs Wi A% f.s
lad better look out or BY all accounts there may be another
JEsIs TAKEN IL EAHNEsr
Mr-. Norman sail that she wrote this note saying
things that sho iaien!ed jokes aud which she dd not
suppose Mr. Carter would seriously. To her great
surprise she received the following telegram:
YRS ToEw,S: Your spois everything. viii rot
engage DO not sunday. Mr.. 'aruthers only
S 70 % n he R Has To- On d al his
BrOosyu Office at .. HEsgY GARTER
The next day she received the following note written
n postal carl:
MR. Norv,v wsaro all OF mind DO not on
saturday OF Sunday II you 40 we are prepared H. c.
MIR. BEECHER sfNDs his RfGRETs.
Mrs Norman sont her husband. who Is organist.
see what all this meant lie SIR. Caruthers, who
following sunday. ns 1t would make scene. but said
that he would that Carter carried his contract
with She did not go tho church AMI Mr. Cartsr
subsequently refused to carry out the contract She
made an appeal to Mr. Bsochsr who answered a. fol-
lows:
Ny DK,R NORMAN I Obliged go 10 he aruOry
lJth Regiment Immediately after service In church
Plymouth Church which service has been very
agreeable ~ me, should be ceudei
'tss with run CONS Mt Of Trustees PIT the nusia rryce
in.nf AMI DECISIONS viii DO huai that you rsgsri
yourself engaged by Mr. caruthers No doubt he
passed. himself acting IN accorianco with our WISHES But
while he acting kindly ne acted without au hori Only
Music Committee Mr. Carter ia thor behalf. mako
have Away, enjoyed your singing shall sorry TO
TN, matter wishes will aud suppose
HENRY WARD BgKCUER.
For tho defence the material stated the u
plant rot denied ami tue Jury pro upty rendered.
the ful amo claimed samuel h. HAMBURGER APP |
peared for tho planun and A 49, Boarimau for the de-
PENDANTS.
.frcc unyr NgEn Nnr UE EY.MINEn